Orlando Magic Daily 2017 NBA Mock Draft

The Rest of the Lottery

The Minnesota Timberwolves undoubtedly would have loved to see Jonathan Isaac fall to them. He is a perfect fit for their core and they would allow him the space to blend into the background a bit more as he grows and matures. That is not how things play out here.

So instead I have them reaching and taking Frank Ntilikina. I think Ntilikina can grow into a strong defender, something I know coach Tom Thibodeau wants. With Zach LaVine able to handle some of the playmaking duties, they can ease Ntilikina into the lineup or have him play shooting guard next to Kris Dunn. Ntilikina has to improve his shot overall.

If the Magic do not take Smith, there is the chance he could really fall. If the Kings draft De’Aaron Fox at No. 5, it could be a little bit of a slide. Nobody knows what the Knicks are going to do, so they should take the best player available. That is still Dennis Smith.

As I said, I think Smith should be the pick for the Magic. I love his ability to attack the basket and his scoring instincts. He may not be a true triangle point guard. But at this point, I just want to ignore whatever the Knicks want. They will just do whatever creates the most chaos.

The Dallas Mavericks are probably really hoping to get one of the two point guards with this pick. And it is certainly possible they use this pick on Arizona Wildcats shooting big man Lauri Markkanen as a replacement for Dirk Nowitzki. But I think Malik Monk should still be the pick.

Monk, not Markkanen, is the best shooter in this draft by estimation. And if anyone could turn Monk into a point guard, it is probably Rick Carlisle. The Mavericks are reportedly looking to move Wesley Matthews. Monk would have a spot to grow and be part of the Mavericks’ future.

The Kings have the potential to have a really good draft. Gasp. That sounded weird to write and read and say and all that. But Markkanen can succeed in a system that spreads the floor with a lot of shooters and where he will not be relied on the be the main star.

Put him on the floor with Buddy Hield and De’Aaron Fox with Skal Labissiere and Willie Cauley-Stein to help protect the rim behind him, and I think Markkanen would be a really good pick here.

I am personally very high for Donovan Mitchell. And he seems like the exact kind of player the Hornets would pick — long, athletic and strong on the defensive end. He is a smaller version of Nicolas Batum and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. He might even be able to to take on some of the ball-handling duties to move Kemba Walker off the ball.

Some players seem like they have a perfect organizational fit. I think Mitchell and the Hornets are a match made in heaven.

Luke Kennard is a shooter the Magic are certainly targeting. With the Detroit Pistons wanting to make the Playoffs quickly, there are rumors they want to move out of this pick and find a veteran. But I would still consider keeping Kennard if I were them.

Kennard is one of the best shooters in this Draft, something the Pistons and Stan Van Gundy are desperately searching for. I think he is a smart basketball player. Coming from Duke, he should be able to fit into Stan Van Gundy’s schemes and pick it up quickly. Van Gundy did wonders for J.J. Redick‘s career. He could do the same for Kennard.

I think the Denver Nuggets would probably be smart to move this pick. They have plenty of young assets and could probably use a veteran to help them get over the top. I think this is a pick the Magic could target to trade up, depending on who they want to pick (there are a few players).

But if the Nuggets keep this pick, I like them taking Zach Collins. He is the best player on the board with a solid all-around game. He can post up, step out and shoot and protect the rim a bit. I would not expect him to be a full-time starter, but I think he would make the bleeding easier as they try to shop Kenneth Faried.

OG Anunoby screams Miami Heat player to me. He is a hard-nosed defender who loves using his physicality to stop other players and work his way to the rim. That sounds exactly like the kind of player Pat Riley like. I think the Heat are smart enough and patient enough to draft him and let him heal up from his ACL surgery last season.

If I were the Magic, Anunoby is a player I would target for the middle of the first round. I think he would be phenomenal coming off the bench. And his room to continue growing offensively is standout.